85R5249 GCB-F
By: Hughes S.B. No. 859
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the membership of the Texas Racing Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2.02(a), Texas Racing Act (Article 179e,
Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission consists of eight [seven] members
appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate
and [two ex officio members who shall have the right to vote. The ex
officio members are:
[(1)] the chairman of the Public Safety Commission or
a member of the Public Safety Commission designated by the chairman
of the Public Safety Commission, who shall serve as an ex officio
member with the right to vote [; and
[(2) the comptroller of public accounts or the
comptroller's designee].
SECTION 2. Section 2.05(a), Texas Racing Act (Article 179e,
Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
(a) Six [Five] of the appointed members of the commission
must be representatives of the general public and have general
knowledge of business or agribusiness. At least one of those
appointed members may be a veterinarian, and being licensed as a
veterinarian satisfies the requirement that the person have general
knowledge of business or agribusiness. One additional appointed
member must have special knowledge or experience related to
greyhound racing and one additional appointed member must have
special knowledge or experience related to horse racing. A person
is not eligible for appointment as a member of the commission if the
person or the person's spouse:
(1) is licensed by the commission, except as a
commissioner;
(2) is employed by the commission or participates in
the management of a business entity or other organization regulated
by the commission or receiving funds from or through the
commission;
(3) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more
than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other
organization regulated by the commission or receiving funds from or
through the commission; or
(4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible
goods, services, or funds from or through the commission, other
than compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for commission
membership, attendance, or expenses.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor shall appoint one additional member to the
Texas Racing Commission to comply with Section 2.02(a), Texas
Racing Act (Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as
amended by this Act. The additional member appointed in accordance
with Section 2.02(a) shall serve a term expiring February 1, 2019.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.